Yes, it's Xiaojun's birthday! SHE IS 15 NOW! Rasyidah and I planned how we wanna do her surprise party already, but most of the job was done by her because BIG BOSS IS BUSY! HAHAHA. So job shall be left to miniboss to take over. LOLLLL, and there's Raziq under-probation-miniboss. HAHAHA, and I just realised, Raziq got nice ass.
Anw, sang birthday song for Xiaojun with some of the former 2-4 students, she cried! She was so touched man. And she said she almost teared while reading my birthday gift for her. Yea, it was a photo album that I load many silly stuffs we did. After school was out NZ Competition against Xinmin, had a very motivational talk by Xinlerk that made Meiting and Yuping cried. Still lost to Xinmin, but what's over is over okayyyy. The rest of the school had Community Day where they get to distribute mandarin oranges to the residents around our school area. However, our class get to distribute mandarin oranges to the Lion Befrienders. Cool, but I missed it. Sad.
BTW, I LOVE OUR CLASS CHEER. It's so damn cool, and with Ms Li, it just made everything right okay. And all the ideas we thought of are so damn cute and they all fits into the cheer. Including 'samula'~ HAHAHA, it was by accident that it became the class joke. Anw, I shant talk about the class cheer anymore cos it's so damnit nice and cool. HEHE.
Head home with Xiaojun, showered and met her. Took the bus to Admiralt Garden. Many had already reached, was waiting for Rebecca, Zena and Matthio. Played awhile of Truth or Dare, then played with flour. All pre-planned carefully, so that Xiaojun wont find out. Floor was smacked into her face and I think some got into her contact lense and nostrils. If it gets into your nostrils, the feeling is horrible. Imagine water going into your nostrils, sucks right. When flour gets in, it's worst than that. Then played for quite awhile, was very fun. See those photos are what become of us after the three packets of flour finished.
Then we go went on to the birthday cake. Took some photos, candle arranged by me :D HAHAHA, everyone get to take turns to give her some well wishes, and lastly she get to wish. Blew off the candles and we ate the cake the same old way again. With just a spoon, and pushing the cake around, everyone takes turns to eat. The cake was damn nice. See Rasyidah, I chose the right cake PINK IN COLOUR somemore :D XIAOJUN LOVE PINK AND PINK SUIT HER (tips if anyone wanna buy clothes for her.) Then Rasyidah was the last person to eat, she took a spoonful, funny that noone realised she only took the top layer of cream, and SMACK! into Xiaojun's face, and everyone started throwing cakes at one another. Whereas Zena sit there and continue eating, the cake was damn nice. Then I joined her, but we have to get hit every now and then with creams from the cake la. Then I got so irritated that I finished the last bit of the cake meant to be left for Matthio. HAHAHA. :P
Then it was the water balloons, I dont know how it started. But Rasyidah just shoved a balloon into my hand and I just threw it. And it wouldn't burst! LOL, k la, must hit the ground then it will burst. And I hit Xiaojun's back, ooops.
After which is the candles! Wonder what is it right? We wanna make Xiaojun's name out using the candles! First we tricked her by saying all the pranks and activities are over. Then Rasyidah faked that her right leg cramped, and I had to stay behind to accompany her. And they went to play blindmice. They played it in such a way that the birthday girl had to close her eyes, and we will surround her. She will put her hand on the shoulder of two person and we will lead her to the playground. We can choose whatever route we want. Aiya, actually this is to trick her so that she wont know what we're doing exactly la. Cos some of them will leave to check out the candles, whether it's done or not. And for a period Xiaojun suspected us hiding something, because I keep disappearing. So I had to go back to her and play play and go back again. LOL.
And because the candles are going out, we lied to Xiaojun that Rasyidah fainted. And surprisingly, she believe us. HAHA, how stupid can she get, seriously, she's so naive! She was running anxiously over to Rasyidah, only to find that she's okay, and the beautiful candles. She almost teared, I swear. Her eyes were watery.
Then all of us blew out the candles together. Then we sat in a circle and talked about anything and everything in school. Who we liked in class and what we thought of one another. COOL, it was fun. We always remember to make the promise that 'whatever said there, stays there.' It became like the cliques vow, cos we used it so frequently. HAHA.
Some of us went home after awhile. I accompanied Xiaojun until the last second of her birthday, and finally it's 06 February 2010, we welcomed it together. Went back home, my sister also just reached home, no wonder I never get any scoldings nor naggings.
One last time again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY XIAOJUN!
I know she had fun :D
Sunday
Headed to cwp together, took prints again. I think I'm addicted to it. Eventhough I really hate decorating it, it's so annoying. So far we took two prints together, yay :D
LOL, we had one NG shot! (See the one in blue background)
& two others anyhow-shot.
Headed to Bugis afterwards, went to the second floor immediately. Xiaojun tried on one dress in pink, its got nice patterns and everything, but the cutting suck can. I told her not to buy it.
After we couldnt get what we want, we headed to Fareast. I think it's so much better to shop there, no crowdyness and stuffyness. LOL. And we bought the things we want immediately. I had to go home early at first because my family is invited to my uncle's daughter's one-month-old celebration. But didnt go in the end, can see Xiaojun relax alot after that. She was rushing like a mad chicken. Anw, she bought all dresses and they're all in tubes. I wondered if she got scolded by her mother.
Went to the hotel next door to playyyy. HAHAHA.
Feel so good to help someone. Have you ever had the feeling that you know you should help, and yet you didnt? I hate that feeling, it feels so bad to turn someone down, especially when you know she really needed help. After helping someone/doing good deeds, I realised what teachers in primary school said were true, they always say helping someone is a good thing, not only will you feel good about yourself, your ability to be able to help others and your kind heart. I had that very shiok feeling when I help someone in need, first was just simply buying tissues from a wheelchair-bound person at a higher price, it was 2 for a dollar. I helped old people cross the roads. K la, they are just so small things. But these small thing made my day, even if at the end of the day, I didnt get to do what I initially planned to.
K la, I'm not being random k. I'm talking aboutt this topic because Xiaojun and I helped a China lady at Tan Tok Seng Hospital when I went there for my apppointment. The 1A Eye Clinic was closing soon, eventhough it's only 4pm (PS: From what I know the doctors there only work from 9-4pm.), so there was very little people. So while waiting for my turn, there's this China lady with another woman on wheelchair, I think they're mother and daughter. The lady was very anxious or something, she keep calling someone with her phone and demanded for that person to come down to the clinic at once. She's SUPER fierce, she broke into tears after scolding. As she was sitting just next to us, we gave her tissue. Then it was finally her turn, cos it seems like she waited for quite some time already.
After that we had to wait for our turn outside a room, I was after her. She just look super anxious, and finally she approached Xiaojun and I and asked if we could help her take care of her mother until 7pm. We hesitated at first, because we dont really know her, and all we did was lend her tissue paper. Then she explained her situation to her and everything, we thought that she might have approached us because we're students, in our school uniforms somemore, and we wont do any harm to her mother. We agreed, and she shoved a 50dollar note into our hands. We declined, we're only students! But she was very persistant, she said she wouldn't feel safe if we dont take the money. True, because we could just leave her mother alone there, but once she give us some reward or something most of the people will take special care. We took the money, but we know we will definitely return it. BUT HOW?
I followed her mother into the room, because I know most of the doctors. I was their patient once. The nurses keep saying how I'm related to her, and how I should be so nice to strangers, how I'm just a student and shouldnt be responsible for this kind of stuffs. I ignored them, all I said was "I promised her." The lady didnt want us to leave her, we didnt. Then many things cropped up, the woman was sent to the Emergency area because the clinic is closing soon, and we had to follow. But the problem is we cant go in. We phoned the china lady and her friend, luckily her friend came. And everything went smoothly afterwards. We didnt dare to return the money to her friend because we were afraid he might keep the money himself. So when he went to take the medicine, we stuffed the money into her hands and said her daughter gave this to us, but we cant keep it. We went home afterwards, I reached home very late. Got scolded by my parents, but I did nothing wrong, so I could talk back. HEHE, lol.
Aw sian. I'm very busy nowadays, super busy. K, maybe not as busy as somebody -,- I'm so tired, seriously. I need time. So that I can forget everything and settle down with my piles of homeworks that are finally getting lesser. THE PROBLEM I'M LEFT WITH NOW IS MY PHYSICS! I'm so busy with competitions, my catching up on studies, my revisions, making my friends birthday presents, oh god, I dont think I will ever finish listing everything. Anyway, competitions created alot of troubles for me. K la not troubles, just that I dont wanna miss out on anything. For one of the competition, I will be missing the CIP Lion Befrienders Briefing. And the actual CIP (Giving out Mandarin Oranges to the Lion Befrienders). And one of the competitions clashed with my appointment with my doctor. God, I dont know how to change the appoinment date and time, plus I'm not free on any other days. But I cant miss the match, we will be playing against Xinmin, someone please help me. I'm going berserk already.
I'm finally back in school! It feels great, but weird with my red specs, I stand out with the striking red. Gonna change it to black specs soon anyway since I'm gonna wear specs permanantly already ): I wanna have many many pairs of specs like Sezairi so I can wear different specs everyday. HAHAHA, k just joking. Anyway, first day in school wasnt that bad but I realised I gotta catch up on a lot of chapters. What I'm worrying most now is my physics and I missed one whole chapter of it. Stress la, test is next week. I have no idea how I'm gonna pass it.
Anyway, Hengteng is seriously gay. K no, it's BISEXUAL. LOL, he catwalked with Eunice's handbag and even flicked his hair. And sitting at the back row is so freaking fun that Mr Chong said I was a left brain retard. HAHA, wth. I just didnt get what he said, k nevermind, I was talking to Eunice. Nothing much nowadays, I cant online cos I was packed with homeworks homeworks and homeworks from the week that I missed. Oh yaaaaa, Hengteng kissed Kokhong three times yesterday. He looks so desperate laaa, when he could get the maths sum, he had to stroke Kokhong's chest to release his stress. LOL, and they hold hands all the time, and it's interlocking fingers kind of hold hands. Yuckkkks.
Had 2.4km mock test today, Volleyballers decided to run together. But of course we got separated at the third round. I was surprised I was the 10th girl to reach. I was running very slowly, my timing was 16min plus. Normally it would be 11-12min.
Anyway stayed back today after school to do up the notice board. K la fine, I didnt do the notice board. I was 'beautifying' the whiteboard. HAHAHA, I did up the posters as well and I swept the floor and rearranged the tables and chairs. Our class looked alot neater when I left the room to study in the canteen with Pantita and Patrick, as well as Runfa. Pan was so stuck in his compo, and during recess I was like making up introductions for them. HAHA, and it was so random and last minute. We were chatting alottttttt, TOO MUCH in fact. LOL, but it was so fun.
Board the bus alone and hongye told me to stop at WDP bus stop and he walked me to cwp and back home. Get well soon laaaa, your diarrhea is annoying me. Walking down steps need to walk like pweeencess. HAHA, damn funny la. Somemore cannot make you laugh cos you will feel like shitting. LOL. There's so much competitions and catching up for me to do, I cant find a date for your sushi. But you visit me during CNY luh, can play mahjong leh. HEHEHE.
Got home, changed and went out to meet Xiaojun and Hongye again. Board some foodstuffs at fairprice, and we were actually thinking of buying a watermelon. HAHA, and hongye suggested we karate chop it with our hand, if it breaks we'll buy it, and if it doesnt, it's spoiled and we still got to buy it. LOL. crap, we didnt do it in the end of course. Then walked past a guy who was wearing super sexy shorts and Hongye was singing a stupid song dedicated to him. LOL, edited from Hips Dont Lie. HAHA. Went to the back of Woodgrove Condo to eat chat and sing. Was abit creepy la, the plastic back keep flying everywhere. Then we decided to walk around the bungalow area. And guess who we saw?
We saw KIANSHEN and MINGHWEE. LOL, what a small world. I didnt know they slack around at that area also. And we were just randomly walking around. I was talking to hongye and xiaojun about the joleen sexy dance that Hengteng did that day and they wanted a demo. I was about to do a demo when a car drove past. HAHA, they saw me and was laughing like mad. But that's okay la, they dont know me anyway. BUT, when Xiaojun was about to do it.... LOL, kianshen and minghwee walked past. Luckily they never see anything. We were laughing like mad chickens la.
Chatted awhile with Kianshen and Minghwee and they headed off the other direction. We went into the bungalow area that goes in a circle. There were angmoh childrens playing there and we waved and said 'hi' to them. They're super friendly. We almost wanted to join in the game with them la, but turned out we destroyed part of it. All we did was walk round and round and round the same area. Hongye piggybacked me and ran, wth, damn scary la, but fun~ HAHA. The kids were playing ice and water, and when they freezed, we went to help them turn back into water. HAHA, k la, they were cheating. LOL.
Went home after awhile, just realised hongye hasn't been to my house yet. WAIT FOR CNY! :D
Someone please help me in physics.
I got a whole long list of homeworks and things to do, like buying my new year clothes.
Anw, our matches are going well eventhough we lost to CCHY. We still got into the second round, work hard guys. Top 4 and Ms Choo will cry. HAHA.
Yayyyy, I think my eye is much much much much better now! BUTTTTTT, I still cant go to school tomorrow because of my stupid doctor. WTH MAN, I hate my doctors, SERIOUSLY HATE THEM. Fancy paying them big sums for lousy services. Talking about today really make me super angry, the doctor is super rough with me bloody eye. I mean, I know it's not his eye la, but he dont have to treat his patient like that even if he's in a hurry or something right. He's so rough that for an instance, I thought he's gonna rip off my right eye and I even showed signals that I dont want him to do it or something you know! SOMEONE PLEASE KILL HIM! He scrape my eye like it's a model eye and has no feelings, even if my eye isnt as sensitive as it is right now, I bet it will still hurt alot. You know it was so painful that I actually cried, even tears came out of my left eye. And he still have the bloody cheek to say, "It's like that one!"
GRRRRRRRR, feel like banging his wall on the machine man. Even if he had a plane to catch he could jolly well tell me first right! My mum and I waited for im for half and hour leh. I GO SUE HIM LA! (sounds familiar, lol. I think it used to be Zena's line.) Stupid doctor, talking about him makes my eye hurt. LOL.
Anw, I'm sooooo bored nowadays. Yes, I've finally started on homeworks. But I cant do many of them because I havent been taught ): Like amaths, I have no shitty idea how to do them. I did chinese, and wth, I did extra without even knowing it la, then I dont want do already. I think I will do revisions on advanced chapters on sciences to catch up with you guys. Hopefully I'll be back on Tuesday :D
Anw, I think some of you saw me in school on Friday. I went back to watch the NZ match against Yishun Sec after my doctor's appointment. I was so happy that my mother actually allow me to watch the match! HAHA, I realised I miss school ): Maybe cos the feeling that you're the only one at home now sucks. Cant sms, go online with noone to talk to, the feeling is terrible. I mean I got someone to turn to during this time, but it's not as good as having all my friends around me in school.
I think I really have low self-esteem or something la, I hate to go out when I look sick because I was afraid people would stare at me like I'm some weird people. I DONT LIKE IT, esp when people scrutinise me. I'll stare back next time, LOL.
I'm sick, AGAIN! I fell sick thrice this week, weak or what? I think I should start popping pills every now and then to build up my immune system, why the hell are they so bloody weak? First I got a flu and I went to training, which turned into fever and I thought I might be okay and went to school. BUT, it became worst and I had high fever, after my fever is gone, now I had eye infection. GAHHHH, wth. What's wrong with my right eye, no wait, what's wrong with my bloody life?
With this goddamn eye infection, I cant go to school. What's more, tests are starting next week. And our class is seriously behind syllabus, and now, I'M behind everything! And there's the Northzone competition I've been training so damn hard for, I got into the team, wth SO? Now I cant play, I cant even watch the game even if I'm there at Presbytarian high with my stupid eye! Then there's SPORTS HEAT that I got all excited about just by talking about it. I even joined the relay, how great. Hopefully I will get well for it, pleaseeeeeeee.
And then there's Hongye's birthday, my bloody good friend. I will never forget his birthday, I will never forget how Xiaojun and I promised to go Sakae Sushi with him. And nowwwww?
I got MC for AT LEAST 7 days, what more am I gonna miss? Wth, seriously, I thought alot during these few days. In fact, I thought toooooo much, so much that I swear you will never know what I'm thinking.
I HATE CONTACT LENSES, I HATE MY EYE! MY BLOODY RIGHT EYE! It's really bloody now cos it's bloody red. Goddamnit, I'm not gonna wear lenses anymore. I dont care, no matter how much I insisted I wanna wear them in the past I'm not gonna wear them anymore from now onwards. Hell cares how I look, I CARE everything else. I dont wanna waste anymore money on my eye, it's not worth it. My mum spends almost hundreds every visit to the hospital, and today she spent $200 on a goddamn eyedrop? It's just a small bottle, FYI, of 15ml! YESSS, $200! That's my bursary award money! ):
I'm praying, cos I need miracles badly.
Havent been posting for this week, so here goes:
(many many dialogues and everything, it's a long post to cover for the week's activities)
Tuesday
3 Zenith rocks! We all hid under our tables, turned off all the lights and closed the doors and windows before Mdm Chan came in so that we could give her a surprise! We bought gifts for her baby! Mdm Siti was on maternity leave. Mdm Chan was very surprised and happy, she bought us chocolate waffles in return. She allowed us to eat in class, but none of us did, and she was SUPER pleased with us :D
Wednesday
Went fishing with Rasyidah, Xiaojun, Shafiq, Joel and Farhan after school. LOL, Dillon came sooo late. He came just as we were about to leave! Btw, it's my first time fishing with them. I dont know if I'm a jinx or what, but whenever I say I wanna go fishing with them something will definitely crop up. And for that day, it rained -,- HAHA, but I insisted that I wanna fish. Luckily the rain stopped just in time, and the fishing area did not rain at all.
Anw, we all went to grab any sticks we can find on the ground, and there's this stick that looks exactly like a wizards magic stick. LOL, but stupid Farhan broke it into half so he could share with Xiaojun. Farhan helped me with my line and bait and everything, we used bread as bait. And I was the first to get started, I waited for freaking long la. And Xiaojun just went down for awhile and she caught a fish.
Xiaojun: AHHHHH AHHHH AHHHHH (screams)
Me: Wth, no need scream until like that right, fish only what.
(after awhile, I caught a fish)
Me: AHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHH! (screams until Shafiq and Farhan came to my rescue)
HAHAHA.
I was afraid that the fish would touch me and mind you, it's jumping around like a retard. And Shafiq and Farhan had to step on the tail to get the hook out of its mouth, I was soooo afraid that the tail would come off! We let the fish into the water after catching it, because catching it is just for the thrill. And so, we (Rasyidah, Xiaojun and I) were competing with each other on who could catch the most number of fishes and DAMNIT! Xiaojun was leading all the way until she gave up and Rasyidah won with 7 fishes, Xiaojun lost by one and I only caught 4 fishes ): HAHA, I'm a beginner okay! Watch out ahhhh, I will win Rasyidah next time!
LOL, I killed a fish and I feel so bad about it. I used the stick to squash the body, dont scold me, Rasyidah told me to do it. She wanted to use it as a bait for the turtle. HAHA yes, we wanna catch the turtle which is impossible. Rasyidah killed it in a fit of anger for losing the catfish, it was on the line! But it got away with the hook, lucky fish, I bet Rasyidah would want to kill it. HAHA.
And as Rasyidah was about to throw the line into the river, SPLASH! She fell into the water! HAHAHA, she had to go tuition after that somemore, so funny la. She smell horrible!
Thursday
We had History Class today and Mr Roy was in a meow-cat mood. HAHA, he keeps meaowing every now and then.
Mr Roy: Meow!~
Mr Roy: Meow!~
Mr Roy: Meow!~
Rasyidah: WOOOF!~
LOLOLOL, how lame can Rasyidah get man!
And Mr Roy spent almost half an hour on the councillors. He didnt want to let them come into the classroom.
4 councillors: *knock knock*
Mr Roy: You guys have to come in a group you know, or else I wont let you'al in, it's very distracting.
Max: *clap clap*
Nicholas: *running towards the classroom* HAHAHA
(You may not think it's funny, but when Max clapped his hands, it's like a signal for his pet dog to come over to his side, and instead of a dog, Nicholas came running over instead. So Nicholas is the dog. HAHA. Gettit?)
Councillors: Mr Roy, can we come in?
Mr Roy: Never greet me, no manners, CANNOT!
Councillors: Good morning Mr Roy.
Mr Roy: Good morning *continues with lesson*
Sheela: Mr Roy, can we come in now?
Mr Roy: Hmm, good initiative, I like! You can come in, the rest of you stay there.
Rasyidah: Mr Roy, can I come in?
Mr Roy: Wahh, so selfish ah. But I like, you can come in now.
LOLOLOLOL, I missed out some parts, but it's roughly like that. And it took half an hour. We laughed so damn hard la.
And then there's BIO lesson. Weilun's group got the privilege to present last as he is super shy, so he got more time to prepare I think. And when it's his turn, he was so soft we was not even sure if he started talking already or not. And he keep laughing, haha. So we raised our hands, meaning we cant hear. Even his group members standing beside him raised their hands. LOL, traitors!
Almost the whole class: *Raises hands*
Sheela: He haven't even started talking yet!
All of us: HE HAD!
Sheela: OH REALLY AH? *Raises both hands*
HAHAHA. And Weilun was so shy that Mr Jack Chong told us to close our eyes and listen to him. And because we can't hear anything, our hands remained raised. And then someone suggested something. And only the BACK row (Eunice, Me, Hengteng, Kokhong, Nadiah, Roger and ChuanSeng) moved our chair to face the notice board at the back of the classroom with both our hands raised up. But we seriously cant hear anything, so Mr Jack Chong had to repeat whatever Weilun said. And finally we get to move on to the lesson. HAHA, I was damn happy la, cos most of the time are wasted and I never bring my biology textbook. Teeheee :D
Today
Went to find Xiaojun at Sembawang Park, SHE OWE ME A BIGGGGG FAVOUR for making me rush there to her rescue! But I was very anxious for her as well, she sounded damn sad. But happy as I'm the first one she confided in :D She cried when she saw me leh, she told me everything that happened. Then we went back to the pit after awhile of chatting. I ate alotttt, haha. Hungry ma! And left the park at around 10pm.
Btw, there's this indian man who asked us something when he overheard us chatting
Xiaojun: (talking about Social Studies Sri Lanka and India)
Indian man: Excuse me, you know Sri Lanka?
Xiaojun and I: HUH?
Indian man: You know the ticket? Who won? Sri Lanka or India?
Xiaojun and I: HUH?!!!!
Indian man: *Explains everything to us*
Xiaojun and I: Ooooh, we dont know.
LOL, we're just chatting randomly about SS Sri Lanka and India, and it happens to clash with the Indian man's topic. HAHAHA, he said he had been catching the tickets game, but didnt catch the finals where Sri Lanka will be playing against India. He wanna know who won, so he thought we're talking about it and asked if we know who won. LOL. Damn funnny la!
Training tomorrow: 1-4pm!
Btw, our competition draws and schedules are out.
Thursday: Hougang Secondary School
Friday: Yishun Secondary School
Tuesday: Chung Cheng High Yishun
We'll be having a friendly match with Hwachong a'division girls next Saturday. Woah, heard they're national champs leh! But it clashed with our Sports Day Heats. Godddd, hopefully the friendly is in the afternoon, cos it'll be such a waste. Our batch waited for 2 years and finally here comes Sports Day and volleyballers cant participate. HAHA, kkk, hopefully it's not this case la.
Yayaya, you dont say what you mean. Btw, I'm straight, straight-forward. Guess you dont know me well enough then. Blehh ;P
Btw, today all the volleyballers (except some with short hair or latecomers) tied AVATAR today! Damn cool shit or what! HAHA, actually AVATAR is our secret code for scorpian hairstyle. Guess it's not a secret anymore la, but we wanna be new and original. So long for copycats and suckers~ It was quite successful, and I like Yuping's hair! Damn nice to tie laaaa, and Jiajing's hair smells great! LOL.
& (another) BTW, we ran 3km for PE today! ): NOT FAIR! We ran around the school 2 times, but I think it's easier to run around the school than at the garden leh. Somemore I dont think I sweat alot during the first round. LOL, I was the first during the first round. Overtook Jiajing while sprinting. And immediately I passed Alison who was recording the time, I walked. HAHA, and Ms Toh was like, jiayou Xinpei, come on keep running. And I shouted, "I DONT WANNA RUN ALR, I DONT WANNA RUN ALR, I DONT WANNA RUNNNN!" LOL, yes I walked a few times. I didnt really care about the timing and everything because I let alot of people overtake me already. HAHA, yea I'm like that. But 3km is not as hard as I expected la.